Northern short grasslands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern short grasslands |
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Prairie in southeastern Alberta, Canada
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 231 |
| Mammal species | 78 |
| Geography | |
| Area | 638,400 km2 (246,500 sq mi) |
| Countries | United States and Canada |
| States/Provinces | Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Alberta and Saskatchewan |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/Endangered |
| Global 200 | Yes |
| Habitat loss | 28.690% |
| Protected | 14.8% |
The Northern short grasslands are a vast area of grassy plains in North America. They cover parts of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. They also stretch into the American states of Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska. This large natural area is one of many ecoregions around the world. Experts like the World Wide Fund for Nature study these regions.
Climate in the Grasslands
The Northern short grasslands have a semi-arid climate. This means they are quite dry, but not a true desert. The average yearly rainfall is between 270mm and 450mm.
Winters here are very cold. The average winter temperature is about -10 degrees Celsius. However, special winds called chinook winds can make it warmer for a short time. These winds are most common in the western part of the region, near the Rocky Mountains. Summers are warm to hot, with an average temperature of about 16 degrees Celsius.
Plants of the Grasslands
The main plants you'll find here are different types of grass. Common grasses include blue grama, needlegrass, and spear grass.
In the southwest, you might see big sagebrush. But in the north and east, silver sagebrush is much more common. In drier spots, especially in rocky areas called badlands, you can find prickly pear and yellow cactus.
Near rivers and other water bodies, you'll see trees like plains cottonwood and trembling aspen. Willows and other water-loving plants also grow there.
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Animals of the Grasslands
Long ago, huge herds of bison roamed these grasslands. Today, you can still find some bison in places like Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan. Some also live on private ranches.
Pronghorn are very common here. They are fast animals that look a bit like deer. Many conservation efforts have helped their numbers grow. Mule deer are also often seen, and white-tailed deer are present too, though less common.
Large groups of Richardson's ground squirrels still live in the area. However, the black-tailed prairie dog is much rarer now than it was before European settlers arrived. In the past, elk and grizzly bears also lived on these plains. Sadly, these animals are no longer found here.
